Faculty Engagement Opportunities

The University Scholars Program introduces a community of high-achieving students to the visual and performing arts, encourages them to consider issues drawn from the sciences and politics, challenges them to excel academically and inspires them to explore and engage through cultural and outdoor explorations programs. The program offers many opportunities for faculty to engage, support and educate high-achieving students. To learn more about these opportunities, or to propose a new opportunity, please contact:

Participate in the Scholars Forum

The Scholars Forum is a 0 credit course that University Scholars enroll in for three semesters. It features lectures, panel discussions, debates, musical and theatrical performances and encourages students to engage intellectual and cultural opportunities on campus and throughout the triangle Each semester, one week of the Scholars Forum features a series of “Faculty Conversations” focused on presentations by NC State faculty about their scholarship. Faculty can also participate in the Scholars Forum by inviting us to include departmental lectures and related activities on the list of events that University Scholars may attend to fulfill the course requirements.

Offer Honors Contracts in regular class sections

Honors contracts allow students to work with faculty to earn Honors credit in regular course sections by completing additional or alternative assignments that promote the development of creative, independent, critical and analytical thinking and allow students to seek a more extensive and in-depth learning experience in the context of a traditional course. Contracts may be developed in advance by members of the faculty who agree to supervise Honors work or proposed by students to members of the faculty in whose courses they are enrolled.

Teach an Honors Course

Honors courses are offered by academic departments across our campus and University Scholars enroll in these courses to fulfill the program’s academic requirements. Honors courses offer faculty the opportunity to offer an enriched experience to a class of high-achieving students.

Promote the development of activities in the Scholars Village

The Scholars Village is designed to create a community of culturally-connected, informed and engaged residents. Village residents participate in a variety of culture and service activities and engage in meaningful discussion about important contemporary issues. Faculty can play a vital role in delivering these activities by attending cultural and service activities and leading discussions afterwards or by leading pre-event discussions.

Participate in our Outdoor Explorations Series or our Cultural Explorations Series

University Scholars participate in a range of educational activities that take place beyond our campus. Our Cultural Explorations Series features an international spring break trip each year. We have visited Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Turkey, Ireland and Scotland in recent years. Our Outdoor Explorations Series allows students to learn and reflect in the natural world across the United States and around the world. We have been to Acadia National Park, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica in recent years. We welcome faculty who are interested in helping us design and deliver future experiences.

Study Abroad

The University Scholars Program offers summer study abroad programs in Florence, Italy and Oxford, England. We encourage faculty members interested in helping us direct these programs or design new programs for high-achieving students to contact us.